Saturday, July 15, 2017

Little Things

We had seven feral cats who claimed our house as their own. They all live outside. None of them like to be touched. A couple of them keep a safe distance, even after all these years. Until last week, one of them was "Mama Cat." She's the mother of the four daughters that hang around. It was this group that changed everything. My dad caught and had fixed a total of eight ferals. These five and three others. Two of the originals have died, but we've had these six for several years. A few others have come and gone.

We don't know how old Mama Cat was. This summer was difficult for her. It's too hot. She'd been moving slow for a couple of months. More markedly, she hasn't run away when I come near. I hadn't seen her for a few days and figured she'd hidden in the bushes and passed away.

A few days later, I saw her again, laying close to the side door. I knew it was bad when she didn't hop up and run away. I chose a different door to exit, and she'd already moved to the grass, seeking some relief. I watered another part of the lawn, hoping to help cool things down a bit. She made her way toward me, waiting for me to turn off the water. I watered down the flowerbed beside the house. She settled in the cooler dirt.

I put some water in the freezer for a few minutes, then poured it close to where she was laying, knowing it and the breeze would cool the area a bit more. I could have touched her, but I promised her I wouldn't.

Funny how you grow attached to creatures that distrust you, and then there's the brief moment when they show a level of trust you never expected.

The next morning, she'd moved. I found her in the dog house. I placed some food and water and a bottle of ice close by. I checked a little later, and she was gone, the water and food untouched. Last week, she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She wasn't really a pet, simply a wild thing that lived outside and ate the food we put out. I remind myself that wild things can't be forced to change what they are. I'm going to miss seeing her. She's in God's care now.

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Today's Prayer

Dear God, I live in perilous and uncertain times, but I know You are in control. You have a plan; help me to stay out of Your way. It matters not what happens to me, but what I make of what happens to me makes all the difference in the world. Help me to be faithful, courageous, and honorable. Help me to be a blessing. Bless our troops. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I stand with God, Israel, my Catholic friends, Coptic Christians, and those being persecuted for their faith.

Prayer list...

D&S Johns

Abe and his men

Nick

Andrew and fam

Doug

Brett

Mark

Ryan

Joel

Matt

RJ

Andy

Steve

C's son Ryan

A Tahmooressi

J Dunne

Bill

Nix

April

Ruth

MA

RtB

Dee

Asia Bibi

Doug G

W&L

Please feel free to ask to have a name added.

Amazing Reads...

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Battle Plan for Prayer by the Kendrick Brothers

Life Without Limits

by Nick Vujicic

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Warrior Elite by Dick Couch

Favorite Quotes...

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Are you guys ready? Let's roll." ~ Todd Beamer

"No pit is so deep that He [God] is not deeper still." ~ Corrie Ten Boom

"Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit." ~ Unknown

As long as there are men who value power more than freedom and life, men are needed who value freedom and life more than power. ~ Judy